Bin Laden: the root of the american economic crisis

INTRODUCTION:

Bin Laden’s second victory: the breaking of Wall Street. The terrorists attacks on September 11th reached not only the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, but also the american financial system. However, this second victory only took place in Wall Street seven years later. The current american crisis is a consequence of the terrorists attacks, which forced the U.S. government to became more lenient towards the market regulations, which in turn let banks to loan money in the form of mortgages to people who couldn’t afford, causing the crash.

1st PARAGRAPH:

The embryo of the today’s american crisis is (are?) the attacks on September 11th 2001. The obliteration of the Twin Towers, the american economic symbol, was interpreted by investidors that the bigges economy in the world was fragile. Since they considered it vulnerable, a mass movement of removing money from the US economy got played (to be continued…)

United Nations (temporary title)

             The UN free of bias? Not yet. The United Nations was conceived to be a big institution that would offer to its members the unique opportunitiy to be heard worldwilde, especially to poor governments that don’t even have diplomatic corps, like some countries in Africa. Plus, the organization created several institutions subordinated to the UN that would be responsible for going after world peace and promoting economic and social development, the most important aims of UN, such as PNUD, FAO, OIT and OMC. Although the UN truly chase those objectives and even achieve some of them, what we see in the daily activities of the organization is that the important decisions are held by a handful of countries. Out of the fact that UN does not treat all its members the same, giving them the chance to participate into important tasks, it is becoming more often to consider the UN an one-sided institution. The UN has turned into what it is today because of the historical moment it was created, the countries that contribute with the bulk of its fund and the structure of the Security Council.

             The countries that created the United Nations settled to give to themselves a great power and to ignore other countries. In September of 1945, just after the end of the World War II, the most important counties that won that war decided to create the United Nations so as to substitute the League of Nations, which failed in its tough task about preventing the WWII. However, the countries that created it imposed a structure that gives benefits to themselves. The structure of the Security Council, the UN flag, the issues and the point of views are some examples that illustrates that the values in the UN are the same values of the western countries that created it and won the WWII: United States, France and United Kingdom. Consequently, more than supporting the development and the world peace, the UN was created to assure the power and the influence of the countries that won the WWII.

            Another way of influencing the decisions of the organization refers to its budget. Once the UN is a non-profit organization, it must receive huge amounts of money in order to develop its programs. What the international relations has shown is that the countries that contribute with the most part of UN budget have less chance to receive criticts or even inspections from the UN institutions. For instance, the United States donates almost 25% of UN budget and the top five donators are all allied to US. It obvious that UN will investigate and criticize less its biggest donator than the poor countries who are constantly accused of violating the human rights. Some diplomats say that the last UN Secretary General Kofi Annan left his job because he was criticizing a lot the US foreign policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. In order to reduce the pressure through money, UN should receive more money from other countries and not only from US and their allies.

            The Security Council, the most important institution inside the UN that deals with peace and security situations around the world, has an old and rigid structure, which is unable to solve tasks it was expected to. Although the Security Council is composed by 15 members from all the continents, 5 of them have the power of veto over the resolutions, also known as permanent members, who are: United States, France, United Kingdom, China and Russia. The problem is that these countries never authorize a resolution against their interests, while they can make a resolution against any other country in the world. For instance, in 2006, China and Russia vetoed a resolution against the Iran’s nuclear program, because they are building the industries and facilities that will support the Iranian program. The UN, plus the permanent members of the Security Council, should become aware that such structure, especially about the power of veto, only benefits the permanent members, and that a reform is urging inside the UNSC.

           

Who are you gonna live with?

            Until that day, I had never thought about whom I prefer the most: my father or my mother. Until that day, I had always said what the bulk of sons would say: I like my parents in the same way. Until that day, I had never intended to live alone. That day was a weepy Saturday morning, in March of 2007, when my dad told me that he and my mother decided to divorce. It took almost one year to my father find a new home. And last week was my turn: I moved in an apartment with my mother and my brother. And now I have a fly in the ointment, once I need to choose who I’m going to live with: mom or dad.

            To solve this problem, I decided to find out what are some flaws of each of my parents and where I will be more comfortable and happy (can you suggest me a better way of choosing between the two people you love most?). Well, let’s start with my mother: I’ve been arguing a lot with her since my father left home, in January of 2008. I don’t know exactly why, but I think we are very different. And out of these differences, I often get stressed with her way of life. And I assume she gets too with mine – she is an easy-going person and I’m an uptight guy. For instance: she is not working nowadays, and I usually get worried about how is she going to pay her bills. Yeah, I know that I shouldn’t concern about this. After all, she is my mother, and not the opposite. Another pitfall is that she is already dating, what makes me uncomfortable. I’m not against dating, or getting married after a divorce. The thing is I’m not ready to see a guy without shoes on my sofa watching TV in my living room.

And what about my dad? Well, my father is a role-model for me. My grandfather died when he was too young and he experienced some bad situations after that. However, he was able to get over those tough moments and now he is a very successful man. Is he perfect? No, absolutely. He is very stressed – and I think sometimes I get more stressed when I’m with him. He also likes to eat fat food, which I don’t. And he is a little tight-fisted; thus, he doesn’t have a maid every day and I have to order some junk food when I have dinner at his apartment. And here is the worst thing: he can’t stop hugging me when we are together! Last Tuesday I was lying with my dad in his bed when I caught myself thinking: I used to be more exigent. In the past, I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a small and cold apartment, with ugly furniture and no food. But now, I think I need nothing, but my father, to be happy.

Although I prefer to live with my father, it’s not a breeze decision. Actually, I don’t know how to do it and neither if I should. It is hard to me not to see my father daily, hearing his voice just through the phone, not laughing together as we used to. But I have my mom, and I can’t just leave her alone. And I think she needs me. In addition, I have my young brother. Have you noticed how I care about the others, especially about my family? I’m always thinking if they are fine, if they need something… and if I notice that something is wrong, I want to meet them immediately. Well, I definitely think I should be more self-centered. Thinking on your own is not a good thing. However, it is necessary in some cases. I can’t anymore spend my days worrying if my parents are fine, if my mom will be able to contend with her bills, if my brother will keep up with his grades or if my dad is eating fat food. So, I think that whatever I decided to do, I need to think on my own, what will be the best for my future, where I will feel more comfortable and emotionally good. Otherwise, I will never be able to move on and get over my parent’s divorce.